Leaves of Hostas in August

I was sitting outside just now, avoiding coming upstairs to study for the CGPE, instead sending a pointed email to Foreign Affairs about why on earth they would need to put my name at the top of an article I'm reading on my own phone.

Mainly I was enjoying the morning after buying two tomatoes. Well, so I finally drag myself up, knowing I really do need to look over these geriatric pharmacy modules, and a young man says to me, "Was this bothering you?"

I hadn't noticed a kid sitting there with his laptop and a cigarette. There was music. I said, "No, I just need to go upstairs and study. Was putting it off."

Now, it's true that this kid was wearing very Muslim attire. I don't know the terms, you'll have to forgive me. But the knit hat, the gray dress.

Still, he wasn't bothering me at all. And he never should have had to defend himself just sitting there enjoying the morning same as me. The music wasn't loud. The cigarette smoke wasn't going anywhere in the humidity.

It seems so silly to have to constantly remember that in this country we have inalienable rights, and that, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble."

What that means is that if this kid and I both want to sit outside and enjoy the morning as neighbors, we're allowed to do just that. He can wear whatever he wants and so can I.

He was facing East, which I noticed but did not comment upon.

I just came upstairs. If he's praying, let him pray. If he's plotting, he'll probably grow out of it, as most of us do.